Celebrating 80 years of service

FOR eight decades, the CFA has protected and serviced Victorians in times of emergency, a milestone the organisation celebrated last week.

While volunteer brigades have been around for more than 170 years, the CFA was created following the Black Friday disaster.

The Barwon Heads Fire Brigade, led by captain John Crozier, has existed for 89 years and now has 34 members, with 20 of those being operational.

Mr Crozier joined the brigade 53 years ago and said since then, he has noticed a change in members and the number of female volunteers they now have.

“They’ve changed the dynamics of the brigade enormously and we’re a better brigade because of the influx. We’ve got plenty of young members as well.

“We’re very fortunate to have the group of people that we have. Everyone is stepping up and they all do their job, and it’s not just left to one to do everything.”

Brigades can be found right across Victoria and whilst well-known for springing into action when there’s a fire, volunteers are often on scene for planned burns, floods, medical emergencies and more.

Barwon Heads Fire Brigade lieutenant Pete Burnett said what a lot of people don’t realise about the CFA is that it is not just a summertime experience.

“We’re here to protect the community 24/7, seven days a week, 365 days. Whether it’s in the middle of winter to a car accident or an alarm operating at someone’s home or a fully involved house fire – we’re there,” he said.

“We’re here to protect the community all year round and we would also encourage any members of the community that want to join the CFA, to join us. It’s a wonderful organisation to be a part of and it’s a great endeavour to protect and serve your community.”

The celebration comes off the back of one of the state’s busiest fire seasons in recent years, with thousands of volunteers stepping up to support communities.

CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan said the organisation has come a long way since its inception.

“Eighty years on, the way we fight fires may have changed a little, but our core mission remains the same – to protect lives and property,” he said.

“During the 2024-25 fire season, we’ve seen our members turn out for fire related incidents over 67,000 times, so far.

“I want to acknowledge the commitment and resilience of our members who’ve given up time with their families, taken leave from work, and travelled significant distances to support communities under threat during this busy fire season.”

To say thanks to all CFA volunteers, community members are encouraged to head to cfa.vic.gov.au where they can leave a message of support.